  Take Advantage of the GI Bill
Meet 4 spouses who made their education a reality.
by Josie Cellone
The tens of billions of dollars in tuition money, now available with the recent passage of the Post-9/11 GI Bill, has intensified an already strong desire by college to court veterans and military families into their classrooms. Our Military Friendly Schools list (www.militaryfriendlyschools.com) can help you find the best program for your family.
Schools on the list range from state universities and private colleges to trade schools. The common bond is their shared priority of recruiting students with military experience.
Need some inspiration? Meet four spouses who took advantage of the new educational opportunities:
Name: Tarra Fox
Degree: Pursuing Associate’s in Business Administration
School: Columbia College
Web site: www.ccis.edu
Current Location: San Diego, Calif.
Spouse: Marine Corps
Married: 15 years
How she did it: As Fox saw her four children growing up, she started thinking about reentering the workforce. She knew a degree would make her a more competitive applicant. “It’s challenging going back to school after almost 10 years, but you can see the light at the end of the tunnel,” Fox said. Columbia College gave her a military spouse scholarship to begin her program, and she has used MyCAA funds to help pay for the rest. An added benefit: the Marine Corps Recruitment Depot provided a reimbursement voucher for child care so she could physically attend some classes on campus.
Name: Cathy Rivera
Degree: Pursuing BA in Business Administration
School: Allied American University
Web site: www.allied.edu
Current Location: Fort Bragg, N.C.
Spouse: Army
Married: 13 years
How she did it: When Army veteran Rivera relocated to Fort Bragg with her husband, she sought out ways to finance her education pursuits. With funds from the MyCAA program and the support of the Allied American University staff that walked her through the process, Rivera headed back to school. “I am grateful that I found a university that took the time to help me achieve my goals,” Rivera said. “I have an education counselor assigned to me that checks in weekly to monitor my progress and assist me with (anything else) I may need.”
Name: Brandy New
Degree: Pursuing BA in Organizational Management
School: University of LaVerne
Web site: www.lavern.edu
Current Location: Vandenberg AFB, Calif.
Spouse: Air Force
Married: 6 years
How she did it: After New’s husband completed his degree through the University of LaVerne, she decided that it was her turn to go back to school. “With all of the resources now available for spouses to attend college, it was just time for me to go back to further my career,” New said. “Though I just began this journey, I am so glad and proud of myself that I did.” While working full-time, New is pursuing her degree by taking face-to-face courses conveniently located around the corner from where she lives.
Name: Linda Hoven
Degree: Pursuing Master’s in Nursing
School: Saint Joseph's College
Web site: www.sjcme.edu
Current Location: Offutt AFB, Neb.
Spouse: Air Force
Married: 16 years
How she did it: With the challenges of her husband’s busy schedule and her life as a stay-at-home mom, Hoven needed a college that would allow her to complete her graduate degree outside a traditional classroom. Hoven notes St. Joseph’s excellent support for distance learning students was instrumental in completing her degree. “While I may have burned up a Blackberry or two with all of my e-mail questions, my instructors quickly responded to me and provided feedback that enabled me to complete my assignments,” Hoven said.
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 What is an LES?
Even the world of military finance has acronyms. Understanding one in particular can be very beneficial to your family. LES means Leave and Earnings Statement. |
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